Kalyna Country...one of the most historic places in Alberta!
Over the years there have been many interesting articles written on the fascinating history of the Kalyna region. Below are links to a few of the many stories written about our early settlers. We thank Jars Balan and the others who have taken the time to research and share this information with us.

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About Kalyna Country…

The Kalyna Country Ecomuseum is a heritage and eco-tourism district in East Central Alberta, named after the highbush cranberry plant, pronounced (Ka-lin-na) in Ukrainian. Kalyna berries were a popular source of food amongst the early pioneers, fur traders and natives. Kalyna Country is a year round playground with culture as diverse as the landscape that offers it. Here the Aspen Parkland and the Boreal Forest converge, split by the scenic North Saskatchewan River Valley, all amidst thousands of hectares of prime agricultural land.

All waiting to be discovered by you!

Leave the hustle & bustle behind. Pack the camper, hit the highways, take the trails, and enjoy a journey into our history, culture, and adventure in Kalyna Country.

Our Proud Legacy at a Glance…

East Central Alberta can rightly be described as a wellspring of Canada’s Western heritage. For untold centuries native bands roamed alongside vast herds of bison. Early trailblazers include Anthony Henday who came in 1754, Peter Pond, Peter Fidler, David Thompson, and the artist Paul Kane. Legendary lawman Sam Steele forged through Kalyna Country during the great March West in 1874, and Sandford Fleming surveyed the region prior to the coming of the railway in 1905 and the ensuing boomtown era.

The historic North Saskatchewan Riverfirst linked Edmonton with the outside world by means of canoe and york boat, and for a time, steamboats. Fort George and Buckingham House, founded in 1792, were part of a succession of trading posts that spanned the length of the lush river valley. A preserved part of the Victoria Trail is the oldest road in Alberta, and leads to both the Victoria Settlement historic site and the new Métis Crossing, to be officially unveiled this summer.

In the late 1800s the Kalyna Country region attracted a massive influx of settlers, many from Eastern Europe, in the process becoming the oldest and largest agricultural colony established by Canada’s Ukrainian pioneers. Their legacy is evident in the more than 100 Byzantine Rite churches that dot the picturesque countryside. Today over 40 museums and historic sites showcase the rich multicultural heritage that is yours to explore between Alberta’s Capital City area and the Saskatchewan border.